Overcoming obstacles on, off the court Volleyball team shares about changes, challenges they face

While the Akins volleyball team has experienced its share of losses on the court this year, the team has found successes, as well. With a di erent team changing the dynamic, they have changed the way they play for the di erent crowds they receive.

e team, led by a dedicated group of captains and Head Coach Amanda omas, typically plays at least two games a week — sometimes more if they are in a multi-game tournament. ey have learned many lessons on and o the court this year, including how to deal with ugly behavior and disrespect from their opponent teams’ fans.

“It’s a part of playing a sport, you’re going to have student sections and they’re going to try and put me o my game,” senior Mallory Liu said. “I block them, and I know I’m good and they can’t tell me otherwise, so I just laugh at them and prove them wrong.” e volleyball team had its rst real match on Aug. 7, a full week before classes even started at Akins this year. Players began showing up for practice in July to train and prepare for the upcoming season. By the end of its season on Oct. 24, the team will play more than 25 games, including various multi-game tournaments.

FINAL PLAY

Coach Thomas and the team celebrate a point recieved after a rally against the Bowie High School team

With the team experiencing a major injury toward the beginning of the season. e team has adjusted well having to play new positions and new rotations.

“We had a major injury early on in the season, and lots of kids have shi ed to di erent positions and have stepped up and played roles that they weren’t expecting to play this year,” omas said.

Adjusting to new positions, attendance also becomes an issue. Attendance is typically only a fraction of what the football team receives at their games, making it dicult for volleyball players to maintain their team morale, especially when the team is dealing with disrespect from other schools.

“At the Akins vs. Johnson game their student section is always negative,” senior librero Alexis Renteria said. “ ey came to our school with their own brooms so they can sweep the bench a er the game.” e volleyball team has learned to ignore a lot of the disrespect coming from the stands during the games. While it can be discouraging and distracting at times, coaches have encouraged their players to focus on the game and act like they’re not there.

While being one of the most disrespectful times they have played another team, this was not the only time they have been mistreated, this happens more commonly than not. At the same time, while enduring the disrespect they also have to deal with less support coming from our school.

“During most games, even home games, the away team will have a louder student section than we will, which can be really disheartening. Especially because I feel like in our district, there are many schools who I guess look down on us, so when their students come to our games, they’re very derogatory, I guess, and we don’t have that kind of support,” senior M Pelt said.

“ ey block them out as they tell us to do, just don’t pay attention to them because they are doing it on purpose, so just block them out and you’ll be ne. Just keep your head up and don’t let them get into your head,” Liu said.

Despite the distractions that can occur at these games, omas takes pride in the fact that their team continues to play against some of the best schools in Texas.

“As long as they’re competing, I feel like they’ve been successful,” omas said. “We’re in the toughest district in the state of Texas. We have three teams in the top 20 in the state. So as long as we’re competing and playing at a higher level than what we do here at practice, then we do well.”

Playing through the disrespect and lack of support, the volleyball team has learned to adjust as they try to ignore the distraction, although they do wish they would have more support at their games.

“When there is a crowd, it is a lot more encouraging and fun,” Liu said. “I always play my best, whether a crowd or not, but it would be fun to have students cheering us on and supporting us.” e volleyball team continues to practice and play encouraging students to support them. Inviting more people to their games and hoping to ll up the stands, they continue to play with their full e orts.

“Some ways students can support me is by making the stands packed and being loud for me and my team to ght harder,” Renteria said. “I feel I do better in the game when there’s a loud crowd cheering me and my team on.”

AubreyMontoyacontributedtothisstory